Locking and ventilating means for hatch covers



Nov. 2, 1943. E. R. swANsoN LOCKING AND VENTILATING MEANS FOR HATCH COVERS Filed April l, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Edf! Nov. 2, 1943. I E. R. swANsoN LOCKING AND VENTILATING MEANS FOR HATCH COVERS Filed'April l5,` 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 2, 1943 LOCKING AND VENTILATING MEANS FOltI v HATCH COVERS Earl R. Swanson, Chicago, Ill.,vassignor to Standi i ard Railway Devices Company, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of yDelaware Application April 15, 1942, Serial N0.438,990

(ECI. 98--7) 4 Claims.`

This invention relates to refrigerator cars and more particularly to overhead bunker cars wherein a plurality of refrigerant containers are supported immediately below the roof of the car. Such containers commonly cover substantially the entire plan of the car and consequently each container has a large area and is relatively shallow. Hatches of the size usually provided in refrigerator cars have a small area relative to such a container and it is, therefore, diicult to load refrigerant into all parts of the containers. My invention is adapted for use with the double hatch arrangement disclosed, which arrangement may be considered either as two adjacent hatches or, viewed from another angle, as one large hatch divided into two parts by a strut. Separate covers are provided for each of the hatches and are preferably hinged to upstanding roof carlines remote from the strut which separates the hatches. A

An object of the invention is to provide unitary means for simultaneously moving both covers to their tightly closed positions by a single movement of said unitary means.

Hatch covers are often diiiicult to open due t the fact that the gasket or padding becomes wedged into the hatch frame; to the fact that the covers and frames are sometimes coated with ice; and to numerous other causes. An object of my invention is to utilize the above mentioned unitary means to simultaneously break the seals and partially open both `of the hatch covers.

A further object is to utilize the above mentioned unitary means for supporting either hatch cover in a partly open position, commonly used for ventilation, and at the same time to lock the other cover in a closed position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of the roof of a refrigerator car showing a double hatch arrangement equipped with locking and Ventilating means which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on lines 4 4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 3.

The drawings disclose the roof 2 of a refrigerator car having a hatch frame 3 with a strut 5 extending thereacross to form a pair of adjacent hatches 4. A refrigerant container 6 is disposed immediately below the hatches 4 and has a length somewhat longer than the 'combined lengthof the hatches. The covers 8, 9 for the hatches are preferably mounted by means of hinges disposed oppositely from the lstrut 5 and attached 'to the upstanding roof carlines l2. The covers 8, 9 are preferably insulated and provided with resilient padding I4 which is compressed against the hatch frame 3 and Strut 5 when the covers are closed to form an air tight and heat insulating seal.

An upstanding pintle 28 is rigidly attached to the strut 5 between the hatches and a member 2| is swivelably mounted upon the pintle 20 and retained thereon by a washer 23 held by a screw 24, which washer 23 overlies a shoulder of the member 2|. The member 2| is provided with rigid knobs 21 projecting therefrom in diametrically opposite directions, although it is to be understood that the knobs 21 could be replaced by rollerswithout departing from my invention.

A member 38 is rigidly carried by each cover,

8, 3 which member projects beyond the edge of the cover and includesa cam slot 3| which, when shown in plan as in Fig. 3, has a curved shape which substantially follows the path oi the knobs 21 during rotation of the member 2|. The slots 3| are higher at their centers than at their ends so that as a knob 21 moved through a slot3l, the cover is forced to a tightly closed position as the knob reaches the center of the slot and is partly open as the knob approaches either end of the slot. `Fig. 3 shows the knobs 21 `at the centers of the slots 3| and the covers 8, 9 consequently tightly closed.

A Ventilating bar 35 is pivotally mounted (34) upon the upper part of the member 2| so as to swing about a horizontal axis transverse to the axis of the knobs 21. When the covers 8, 9 are closed, the bar 35 overlies either of the covers 8 or 9. (The bar is illustrated above the cover 9 as shown most clearly in Fig. 5.) The members 39 carried by the covers 8, 9 have upstanding webs 36 each having two holes 38, 39 of which one (38) is aligned with the hole 4| in the Ventilating bar 35 when the covers are closed and the bar 35 overlies one of the covers. The conventional U-shape locking pin 42 may be inserted l and sealed in the usual manner.

In order to open the covers 8, 9, the member 2| is rotated 90 upon its substantially vertical axis, using the bar 35 to provide sucient leverage to rotate the member 2 The knobs 21 then move clear of the cam slots 3| but during such movement slightly lift the covers 8, 9 so as to break their seals with the hatch frame 3; the covers may then be easily opened by hand. To open the cover 9a to a Ventilating position, such cover is lifted until the cam slot 3l associated therewith is above the path of the knobs 2l. The member 2l is then rotated 90, thereby engaging a knob 2l with the cam slot 3l of the closed cover 83 and tightly closing such cover. The bar 35 isl then raised to the substantially vertical position shown by phantom lines in Fig.

5 and the edge of the member 30 carried by thel cover 9a is then seated upon the desired stepf 45 of the Ventilating bar 35. The partly open: cover' 9a is locked in this Ventilating position by insertion of the U-shaped pin d'2, through the proper hole 46 in the bar 35. be locked in its partly open position and the other cover simultaneously lockedY in its tightly closed position.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the pre*- ierred form of the invention, thoughl it is,- to: be understood that the invention is not lirnitcfiV to the exact details, of construction shown` and de scribed as it` is obvious that Various modifications thereof within the scope of the e1aims,.wi.l1 occur to persons skilled in the art..

I claim:- f

l. In a refrigerator car, a pair ofhatchesin the; root thereof, a strut between said hatches, covers for said hatches separately hinged tosaid roof, unitary locking means for both of said covers mounted upon said strut and comprising a member pivotally mounted to,v swingv upon a substantiallyy vertical axis, means to swing said member,I oppositely prodeeting knobs on' said member and cams carried by saidt covers having slots in the path of said knobs, said slots being inclined downwardly toward their ends so that thel covers are tightly closed when the knobs are adjacent the centers or the slots and opened as the knobs approach theA ends. oi theslots.

2.` In a. refrigerator car,- a pair of hatches in the. roof thereof, a strut between said hatches, covers for said hatches separately hinged to said roei, unitary locking and Ventilating means for Either cover may thus both of said covers mounted upon said strut and comprising a member pivotally mounted to swing upon a substantially vertical axis, oppositely projecting knobs on said member, cams carried by said covers engageable with said knobs to open or close said covers upon pivotal movement of said member, a locking and Ventilating bar pivotallymoun-ted? on said*` member to swing upon a substantially horizontal axis and means associated with said Ventilating bar to support either of said covers in partly open position.

3,. Iny a refrigerator car, a pair of hatches in the roof thereof, a strut between said hatches, covers for said hatches separately hinged to said roof, unitary locking and Ventilating means for both of. Said' covers mounted upon said strut and comprising a member pivotally mounted to swing upon asubs'tantially vertical axis, oppositely projecting knobs on said member, cams carried by said' covers engageable with said knobs to open or close, said covers upon pivotal movement of said member,a1oeking and Ventilating bar pvot ally mounted: on said member toy swing; upon a substantially horizontal axis. and means; associated withsaid- Ventilating bar tosupport either of saidcoversin partly open posi-tion, one; oi said knobs and cams cooperating at the sametime to hold the other ot said covers closed'.

4.. In a refrigerator car, a pair of hatchesI in the roo-f thereof, a strut between said hatches', hinged covers for said hatches having their. free edges opposite the hinged edges adjacent said strut, unitary locking and Ventilating means for both of said covers mounted upon said strut and comprisingr a member pivotally mounted to,- swing upon. a. substantially Verticalv axis, oppositely pro,- jecting, knobs. on said member,l cams carried by said covers. engageable with said knobs to open or close, said, covers, upon pivotal movement of saidmember, a locking and Ventilating bar piV- otally mounted on said member to, swingupon a substantially horizontal axis, and means asso ciated with said Ventilating bar toy support either of said coversA in partly open position.

EARL R. SWANSON. 

